How much of a difference does two years make? It depends on how you look at the latest Meta Ray-Bans.
The Meta Ray-Bans are arguably the most successful AI hardware product in the past three years, with enough momentum to encourage Mark Zuckerberg to spend 80% of the September Meta Connect keynote discussing the past, present, and future of smart glasses.
While much of the fanfare was reserved for the new Ray-Ban Display glasses, which feature a waveguide system that projects visual cues, navigation pathways, a camera viewfinder, and more, the second generation of the original Meta Ray-Bans also launched. In many ways, they succeed their predecessor with meaningful upgrades. But you’ll want to note the drawbacks too.
I’ve tested both the first and second generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses, and here are the key reasons for and against buying the latest model.Specifications
Meta Ray-Ban (1st Gen)
Meta Ray-Ban (2nd Gen)
$299
$379
Frame styles
Wayfarer, Headliner, Skyler
Wayfarer, Headliner, Skyler
Lenses
Tinted, Transitions, Clear
Tinted, Transitions, Clear
Camera
12MP, up to 1080p+ resolution
12MP, up to 3K resolution
Battery
Up to 4 hours per charge, 32 hours with case
Up to 8 hours per charge, 48 hours with case
Microphones
5-mic acoustic array
5-mic acoustic array You should buy the Meta Ray-Ban (2nd Gen) if.
